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Chandigarh, April 23:

Setting the wheels in motion for construction of high quality link roads, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday launched first of its kind initiative for construction of quality roads to facilitate the people of the state.

Addressing the gathering during an interactive session Sadak Dhaancha Vikas Milni here at local Tagore Theatre, the Chief Minister said that such function is being organized for the first time in the history of the state and is aimed at ensuring quality construction of roads. He said that there is a stretch of 64878 kilometers link roads in the state and the Punjab government is starting a project of repair and upgradation of 18944 kilometers long link roads on which Rs 3459.95 crore is being spent. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the main motive of the campaign is to facilitate the people as these Link Roads act as a catalyst in commuting and smooth transportation of the goods and services to people.

The Chief Minister said that these link roads are the arteries of economic growth in the state as they help the people residing in rural areas to commute on one hand and give impetus to trade and business on the other. Bhagwant Singh Mann underlined the need for construction of these roads at the earliest as majority of them have remained unattended even after passing their life of six years. He said that the company constructing the road will be responsible for the maintenance of these roads for five years.

Taking a jibe on the rampant corruption prevalent earlier in construction of roads, the Chief Minister said that this is unwarranted and undesirable. He said that earlier there was a share of those in higher and lower echelons of power in the tenders for construction of roads. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that in such a dismissal situation the contractors had to compromise with the quality of roads.

However, the Chief Minister said that now this corrupt practice has come to an end so the contractors must focus on the quality of roads to be constructed. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that his predecessors never paid heed to words of public because they only listened to their relatives, adding that he has full knowledge of grass root level. He announced that a coordination committee will be constituted amongst the Mandi Board, PWD Department and contractors so as to resolve all the issues in construction of roads.

The Chief Minister said that if any officer indulges in corrupt activity then strict action will be taken against them. He asked the contractors to construct the roads in missionary mode as these roads were the lifeline of the people residing in rural areas. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Panchayats will be asked to ensure proper width of the roads to facilitate construction of these roads.

The Chief Minister said that for the first time in history of the state his government has introduced Artificial Intelligence in the working of the state government adding that due to its usage the government has saved Rs 226.89 crore merely in estimates of roads as 540 kilometres of roads which existed only on paper have been detected. He said that the work of laying the sewerage system and wires should be completed well before constructing the roads. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to ensure proper quality check over the construction of roads Third Party Techno Financial Audit will be conducted.

The Chief Minister said that the state government has enhanced the width of 78 link roads used for Mining from 10 feet to 18 feet and Rs 266.27 crore will be spent on construction and widening of these 389.17 kilometre roads. He said that it is a matter of immense pride and satisfaction that the marketing system of the state is considered best across the state. However, Bhagwant Singh Mann bemoaned that the Union government had stalled funds worth Rs 6857 crore under the Rural Development Fund as the previous government had diverted the funds under the scheme.

The Chief Minister said that they are vehemently flagging this case with the Government of India, which has also reduced the Marketing Development Fee from 3% to 2%. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that at the time when he had assumed the charge of office only 21% canal water was being used in the state for irrigation purposes. However, he said that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that today 75% of the canal water is being used for irrigation purposes and the target is to take it to 80%.

Likewise, the Chief Minister said that after assuming charge his government has revived 15947 water courses in the state due to which water has reached at the tail ends even in remotest villages. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is making concerted efforts for rejuvenating the health and education system in the state. He said that hitherto sending his child to government school was the compulsion of the common man but now it will be his wish to do so as the education system is being revamped.

The Chief Minister said that the state Government has launched first of its kind initiative in the country, a dedicated Sadak Surakhya Force to ensure   enhanced security and to save precious lives on the state and  National Highways. He said that specially trained, freshly recruited 1597 personnel including girls are acting as the backbone to this force, who have been provided with the latest,   fully equipped  144 vehicles and since its launch in February last year the state has witnessed a 48.10% reduction in casualties due to accidents. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that several other states and even the Government of India has hailed this out of the box initiative of the state government.

On the occasion Cabinet Ministers Gurmeet Singh Khudian and Harbhajan Singh ETO, Chairman Punjab Mandi Board Harchand Singh Barsat, Secretary Mandi Board Ramvir, Secretary Agriculture Basant Garg and others were also present.

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